I know very little about the coaching process at ND, but wouldn't increasing the amount of players Mickens is responsible for be a potential detriment to the player? High player to coach ratio?
Wouldn't it be easier for Mickens to mentor until the new coach is ready?
You could make this argument for OL and DL as well, though, right? Split out the interior guys from the tackles and defensive ends on each side, respectively.
Mickens has never coached anything but CB. I have zero doubt he could handle taking on the entire secondary if tasked to him. Especially knowing the importance of linebackers in the Notre Dame defense, it could actually make the situation better going forward.
It seems like a lot of programs split the corners and safeties out now due to the high demands offenses now put on pass defense. There are still programs that will employ a single defensive backs coach, however. There also seems to be a good amount of DC who coach safeties as part of their job title.
Best case scenario is O'Leary hangs around for one more year, but the more success the program has, the more likely Marcus Freeman is going to have to jump onto the carousel. It's the nature of the game. You can't just keep giving guys pay raises and fake titles to make them run in place. O'Leary, Mickens, Washington, etc. most likely don't want to stay where they are at forever and certainly not for the convenience of fans.
